Turf roller for tractor

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a turf roller adapted to be connected to the wheel hub of a vehicle such as a tractor and used as both a driving wheel and a roller. The roller includes inner and outer concentric cylindrical walls and end walls which connect the outer and inner walls to define a concentric water chamber and an axial passage adapted to receive the wheel hub of a vehicle. A bracket or partition located in the axial passage and spaced intermediate its length is provided with a plurality of apertures for receiving the hub studs. Nuts are threaded on the studs to secure the partition to the hub. Access to the nuts is afforded by the axial passage.

United States Patent Aiuppa 51 May 16, 1972 [54] TURF ROLLER FOR TRACTOR21 Appl. No.: 53,403

[52] U.S. Cl. ..94/50 R, 301/39 [51] Int. Cl ..E0lc 19/26 [58] Field ofSearch ..94/50; 301/39, 40, 41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,298,292 1/1967 Wylie..94/5O 2,664,683 1/1954 De Cato ..94/50 1,752,682 4/1930 McConnell..94/50 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,476,400 2/1967 France..94/50 Primary Examiner.lacob L. Nackenoif Attorney-Wheeler, House 84Wheeler [5 7] ABSTRACT Disclosed herein is a turf roller adapted to beconnected to the wheel hub of a vehicle such as a tractor and used asboth a driving wheel and a roller. The roller includes inner and outerconcentric cylindrical walls and end walls which connect the outer andinner walls to define a concentric water chamber and an axial passageadapted to receive the wheel hub of a vehicle. A bracket or partitionlocated in the axial passage and spaced intermediate its length isprovided with a plurality of apertures for receiving the hub studs. Nutsare threaded on the studs to secure the partition to the hub. Access tothe nuts is afforded by the axial passage.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TURF ROLLER FOR TRACTOR BACKGROUND orINVENTION The invention relates to an attachment for tractors and moreparticularly to a turf rolling apparatus which replaces the wheels ofthe vehicle. Prior art apparatus such as that disclosed in the US. Pat.to DeCato, No. 2,664,683, utilizes a frame which rotatably supports tworollers having water compartments and compartments which frictionallyreceive the vehicle wheels. The frame is fastened to the vehicle.Apparatus of this nature has proved cumbersome and adaptable to only oneparticular size tractor or vehicle.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides turf rolling apparatus whichcan be used on any tractor or vehicle having a standard wheel hub andstuds. The roller has concentric outer and inner walls secured by spacedend walls to define a concentric water chamber surrounding an axialpassage which receives the wheel hub of the vehicle. The water chamberprovides additional weight to the roller in addition to the vehicleweight and the weight of the rider or tractor operator. A bracket orpartition in the passage located intermediate the end walls is providedwith apertures for receiving the wheel studs. The axial passage permitstightening of nuts on the wheel studs. The outer end wall can beinwardly concave to facilitate filling of the water chamber. The innerend wall is desirably outwardly convex to provide clearance with thevehicle.

It is an object of the invention to provide a universal turf roller fora vehicle which is adapted to be bolted to the axle hub and whichincludes a concentric water chamber which surrounds an axial passagewhich affords access to the studs on the wheel hub.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following disclosure.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tractor embodying the turfroller of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view in fragmentary section with portions broken awayshowing the turf rollers of FIG. 1.

F IG. 3 is a sectional end view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, there is shown atractor embodying right and left turf rollers 12 in accordance with theinvention. Each of the turf rollers 12 includes a cylindrical outer wall14 and a concentric cylindrical inner wall 16 located interiorly of theouter wall 14. End walls 18 and 20 are welded or otherwise secured tothe edges of the cylindrical walls 14 and 16 to define a concentricwater chamber 21 which surrounds an axial passage 22. The end walls 18and 20 have concentric axial apertures 23 having the same diameter asthe passage 22.

The outer end wall 18 is desirably inwardly concave to facilitatefilling of a water chamber inlet 24 which is located in the end wall 18.The inner end wall 20 is desirably outwardly convex to provide clearancewith the tractor 10.

The axial passage 22 has a diameter sufficient to receive the brake drum(not shown) and the wheel hub 25 of the tractor.

Means are provided for securing the roller 12 to the wheel hub 25. Asdisclosed, the means comprises a bracket or partition 26 which issecured to the inner wall 16 and located intermediate the end walls. Thebracket 26 is provided with a plurality of apertures 28 adapted toreceive the studs 30 projecting laterally from the wheel hubs 25. Nuts38 clamp the brackets 26 to the hubs 25.

The location of the brackets 26 intermediate the end walls 18 and 20permits the rollers 12 to be located close to the tractor 10. The axialpassage 22 permits a socket wrench and wrench extention to be used totighten the nuts 38.

The rollers 12 are desirably constructed of stainless steel toaffordstren h and to revent corrosion.

Various eatures of he invention are set forth 1n the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a tractor having co-axial wheel axles with wheelhubs having wheel lugs for detachably connecting driving wheels, and aroller for rolling turf and for supporting the tractor and forpropelling the tractor along the ground, said roller including acylindrical concentric outer wall, a concentric inner wall spaced fromsaid outer wall and located interiorly from said outer wall, spaced endwalls having concentric axial apertures and interconnecting said outerand inner walls to form a concentric water chamber, around an axial openended passage, and a partition located within said axial passageintermediate said end walls and intermediate the length of said axialopen ended passage and connected to said concentric inner wall and saidpartition being provided with spaced apertures receiving said lugs andnuts on said lugs securing said roller to said wheel hub.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outer end wall is inwardlyconcave and a water inlet in said concave end wall.

3. The combination of a tractor having co-axial wheel axles with wheelhubs having wheel lugs for detachably connecting driving wheels, and aroller for rolling turf and for supporting the tractor and forpropelling the tractor along the ground, said roller includingacylindrical concentric outer wall, a concentric inner wall spaced fromsaid outer wall and located interiorly from said outer wall, spaced endwalls having concentric axial apertures and interconnecting said outerand inner walls to form a concentric water chamber, around an axial openended passage and wherein said inner and outer cylindrical walls haveinner ends and said inner end of said outer wall is located laterallyoutwardly of said inner cylindrical wall end and wherein said inner endwall adjacent said tractor is axially convex to provide clearance ofsaid cylindrical outer wall with said tractor and a partition locatedwithin said axial passage intermediate said end walls and intermediatethe length of said axial open ended passage and connected to saidconcentric inner wall and said partition being provided with spacedapertures, receiving said lugs and nuts on said lugs securing saidroller to said wheel hub.

1. The combination of a tractor having co-axial wheel axles with wheel hubs having wheel lugs for detachably connecting driving wheels, and a roller for rolling turf and for supporting the tractor and for propelling the tractor along the ground, said roller including a cylindrical concentric outer wall, a concentric inner wall spaced from said outer wall and located interiorly from said outer wall, spaced end walls having concentric axial apertures and interconnecting said outer and inner walls to form a concentric water chamber, around an axial open ended passage, and a partition located within said axial passage intermediate said end walls and intermediate the length of said axial open ended passage and connected to said concentric inner wall and said partition being provided with spaced apertures receiving said lugs and nuts on said lugs securing said roller to said wheel hub.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outer end wall is inwardly concave and a water inlet in said concave end wall.
 3. The combination of a tractor having co-axial wheel axles with wheel hubs having wheel lugs for detachably connecting driving wheels, and a roller for rolling turf and for supporting the tractor and for propelling the tractor along the ground, said roller including a cylindrical concentric outer wall, a concentric inner wall spaced from said outer wall and located interiorly from said outer wall, spaced end walls having concentric axial apertures and interconnecting said outer and inner walls to form a concentric water chamber, around an axial open ended passage and wherein said inner and outer cylindrical walls have inner ends and said inner end of said outer wall is located laterally outwardly of said inner cylindrical wall end and wherein said inner end wall adjacent said tractor is axially convex to provide clearance of said cylindrical outer wall with said tractor and a partition located within said axial passage intermediate said end walls and intermediate the length of said axial open ended passage and connected to said concentric inner wall and said partition being provided with spaced apertures, receiving said lugs and nuts on said lugs securing said roller to said wheel hub. 